TYSONS, Va. (Interstat) — The Virginia Commonwealth Rams and Richmond Spiders, both carrying 33-22 records, meet Thursday afternoon in the Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship at Capital One Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Rams and Spiders split a three-game series in late April, with Richmond taking two of three at home. VCU won the most recent meeting 2-1 on April 26, while Richmond claimed 8-4 and 2-1 victories on April 25 and April 24, respectively. Thursday’s winner advances in the double-elimination tournament.

VCU enters having won four straight, including a 7-4 win over Davidson on Wednesday. Right-hander Dawson Newman, who worked three innings of one-hit, scoreless relief with five strikeouts in that game, has been dominant in recent outings. Over his last six appearances, Newman has allowed two earned runs in 14 innings, striking out 20 while yielding just three hits. He saved his best for the Spiders: in two outings against Richmond on April 24-26, he tossed four scoreless innings, giving up no hits and striking out four.

The Rams’ offense has been opportunistic. In their last 10 games, VCU has averaged 8.1 runs, thanks in part to a lineup that grinds out at-bats. The pitching staff, anchored by Newman and Zach Peters, has a 3.72 ERA over that stretch.

Richmond counters with a potent lineup, headlined by center fielder Chris Schaller. The Spiders’ leadoff man went 4 for 7 with two home runs and four RBIs in a wild 26-24 win at Saint Louis on May 16. Though he has cooled slightly since — going 3 for 18 in his next four games — Schaller has hit safely in seven of his last eight contests. Against VCU this season, he is 4 for 12 with a double.

The Spiders have won six of their last seven. Their lineup, which also features Evan Wilson (3 for 6, six RBIs in the Saint Louis slugfest), ranks among the A-10 leaders in runs. The pitching staff, however, has been inconsistent; Richmond allowed 24 runs in that same game.

Thursday’s game marks the fourth meeting between the in-state rivals this season, with Richmond holding a 2-1 edge. Both teams finished tied in the conference standings, setting up a winner-take-all feel in the tournament opener.

For VCU, the key will be keeping Schaller off the bases and getting length from its bullpen. For Richmond, containing Newman and the Rams’ late-inning relief corps will be crucial. Expect a tight, low-scoring affair with the potential for fireworks from both lineups.

The winner plays Friday against the survivor of the other first-round game.